“When people come into our office, they see diversity. This is important where I work and to me. My intersectionality as a woman of color over 50 with a significant disability has a positive impact on my role,” explained Shannon Minnick, Deputy Director of Independence Now, an independent living center in Maryland. “I am loud. I’m proud. I am bodacious. I am a role model. It is important for people with disabilities to see others with disabilities thriving.
Shannon is not exaggerating. She is an incredible example of what it means to thrive as a person with a disability. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Shannon joined the Disability Community when she was 20 years old. “I was a mother of a 1-year-old with no high school diploma and a woman of color, waking up in a hospital as a quadriplegic.” With the help of her therapist's encouraging her, Shannon was determined to live her best life as a disabled woman. “My therapists taught me how strong I was, they explained that I had to use my voice, they pushed me as no one had ever pushed me before and they told me to research every resource I could. They equipped me with the tools I needed to get through the most traumatic time in my life and then encouraged me to mentor others to do the same.”
Thirty years later, Shannon is leading by example and prioritizes mentoring other people with disabilities. When she’s not working at Independence Now, she’s spearheading efforts in the community. Shannon is the Assistant Coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair Maryland, the Coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair District of Columbia, on the board of the United Spinal DC Chapter - and she’s impacting lives in all of these roles. “It’s important for people with disabilities to see themselves in leadership roles. It shows people with disabilities that they have a role in the community like everyone else. As a leader, it’s important for me to help see their potential and growth. So, providing people with the tools to navigate systems that were built to keep us in poverty and to use their voices in schools, communities, with peers, and in their homes has become my priority.”